GRANADA, Spain: European leaders will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday (Oct 5) to assure him of their long-term support after US President Joe Biden voiced fears that Republican infighting in Congress could damage American aid to Kyiv.
Zelenskyy arrived in the Spanish city of Granada for a summit of the European Political Community – a forum established last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to foster cooperation among more than 40 countries from Norway to Albania.
“Ukraine’s key priority, particularly as winter approaches, is to strengthen air defences. We have already laid the groundwork for new agreements with partners and look forward to their approval and implementation,” Zelenskyy said on social media.
“We will pay special attention to the Black Sea region as well as our joint efforts to strengthen global food security and freedom of navigation.”
Russia pulled out of a deal in July that had allowed Ukraine – a leading global grain exporter – to safely ship food products out via the Black Sea.
Russia has so far rejected UN overtures to revive the deal, while Ukraine is continuing some exports via what it calls a temporary “humanitarian corridor” for cargo vessels.
Ukraine’s efforts to export grain overland via EU countries have caused a rift with Poland and some other eastern members of the bloc that are keen to protect their own farmers. Kyiv and Brussels are also discussing expanding alternative sea routes.
The Granada gathering gives leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak a chance to re-state their commitment to Ukraine after political turbulence in both the US and Europe raised questions about continued support.
In the US, a dispute among the Republican majority in the House of Representatives has complicated budget negotiations and prompted Democrat Biden to go from confidence that an agreement will be made on Ukraine aid to openly expressing concern.
“It does worry me,” Biden said on Wednesday, before adding: “But I know there are a majority of members of the House and Senate in both parties who have said that they support funding Ukraine.”
Source: CNA
